With thousands of local residents still lacking primary care, the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team is urging the community to help share information about available resources.
NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE AND AREA ONTARIO HEALTH TEAM
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The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is inviting residents to engage with their friends, family members, neighbours, and colleagues about why having a family doctor or nurse practitioner is important and to help promote local options for connecting to primary care.
About 30,000 residents in Barrie, Innisfil, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, and Essa Township currently do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Regular access to primary care leads to better health outcomes, earlier diagnosis and treatment, improved management of chronic conditions, and more appropriate use of emergency departments and urgent care services.
In the last two years, almost 15,000 local residents have found a family doctor or nurse practitioner thanks to the work of local primary care providers, Ontario Health at Home, and the BAOHT Primary Care Network.
Today, those without a primary care provider have several choices. Individuals can register with Health Care Connect, which is a free provincial program designed to link residents with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. They can also check out the BAOHT website for a list of local clinics that are accepting new patients and reach out to those clinics directly.
“Having a family doctor or nurse practitioner is one of the most important ways people can access care when they need it,” says Dr. Chibuike Chizea, Co-Chair of the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team. “We encourage people to start conversations with their friends, family members and neighbours about whether they have access to primary care. If someone you know doesn’t have a provider, help them take the next step to get attached. Together, we can ensure more residents are connected to the care they need close to home.”
Residents who already have a family doctor or nurse practitioner outside the area may also consider finding someone closer. Individuals can keep their current provider while exploring nearby options.
“Many people are still unaware that providers in our community are accepting new patients,” adds Dr. Chizea. “Whether you’re looking for a provider yourself or helping someone else find one-now’s an excellent time to get connected and share this information.”
To learn more about Health Care Connect or register online for assistance finding local clinics that are currently accepting patients visit baoht. ca/hcc. Residents can also follow the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team on Facebook and Instagram for updates on local health system news as well as information regarding primary care opportunities in our community.
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